Cooktop Fire Prevention Module with Remote Control Cooking Features

Abstract

A cooking appliance having a cooktop that is regulated by a fire prevention module is provided. In addition to its fire prevention and safety features, the fire prevention module includes a communication module that enables communication between the cooktop appliance and a remote device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer. Using this communication link, the fire prevention module can be used to expand the ability of a user to monitor and/or control operation of the cooktop appliance from a remote location. For example, using a software application on their smartphone, a user may monitor the temperature of a cooking utensil and initiate a particular cooking profile, or be notified when an unsafe cooking condition might be present and that the cooktop unit has been automatically deactivated to remedy the situation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooking appliance comprising:
 a heating source configured for heating a cooking utensil placed upon an upper surface of the cooking appliance;   a temperature sensor positioned to sense the temperature of a cooking utensil placed upon or immediately above the heating source;   an energy control device configured for regulating a source of heating energy supplied to the heating source;   a communication module configured to send data to and/or receive data from a remote device; and   a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor, the energy control device, and a remote device via the communication module, the controller being configured for:
 monitoring the temperature of the cooking utensil using the temperature sensor; 
 operating the energy control device to reduce the heating energy supplied to the heating source when the measured temperature of the cooking utensil indicates that an unsafe operating condition exists or is imminent; 
 communicating with the remote device by performing at least one of sending appliance operating status information to the remote device or receiving an appliance control command from the remote device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance control command comprises at least one of:
 reducing the power of, or turning off, the heating source;   setting a power level to which the cooking utensil should be heated;   locking the heating source in an “off” mode;   initiating a temperature-controlled cooking profile; and   operating the heating source according to a time-dependent cooking profile.   
     
     
         3 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance operating status information comprises at least one of:
 an indication that an unsafe operating condition exists or is imminent;   a notification that the heating source's power level has been reduced to prevent an unsafe operating condition from occurring;   a measured temperature of the cooking utensil;   a power level of the heating source that is manually set at the cooktop appliance; and   an amount of time that the heating source has been energized.   
     
     
         4 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module is a wireless communication module that enables the remote device to communicate wirelessly with the controller of the cooking appliance to receive the appliance operating status information or send the appliance control command or both. 
     
     
         5 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises an electric cooktop, the heating source is an electric heating element, and the energy control device is a relay for reducing or stopping electrical energy (i.e. power) delivered to the electric heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises a gas cooktop, the heating source is a gas burner, and the energy control device is an electronically-actuated gas valve for reducing or stopping the flow of gas (i.e. chemical energy) to the gas burner. 
     
     
         7 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the remote device is any of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer or other electronic device, and having a software application that allows a user to communicate with the cooking appliance. 
     
     
         8 . A method of using a remote device to monitor and control a cooking appliance using a fire prevention module of the cooking appliance, the method comprising:
 operating an energy control device to selectively provide heating energy to a heating source on an upper surface of the cooking appliance;   monitoring the temperature of a cooking utensil being heated by the heating source of the cooking appliance using a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the cooking utensil;   operating the energy control device to reduce the heating energy supplied to the heating source when a measured temperature of the cooking utensil indicates that an unsafe operating condition exists or is imminent; and   communicating with the remote device by performing at least one of sending appliance operating status information to the remote device or receiving an appliance control command from the remote device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the unsafe operating condition comprises a condition where the measured temperature of the cooking utensil exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the appliance control command comprises at least one of:
 reducing the power of, or turning off, the heating source;   setting a power level to which the cooking utensil should be heated;   locking the heating source in an “off” mode;   initiating a temperature-controlled cooking profile; and   operating the heating source according to a time-dependent cooking profile.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the appliance operating status information comprises at least one of:
 an indication that an unsafe operating condition exists or is imminent;   a notification that the heating source's power level has been reduced to prevent an unsafe operating condition from occurring;   a measured temperature of the cooking utensil;   a power level of the heating source that is manually set at the cooktop appliance; and   an amount of time that the heating source has been energized.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the remote device is any of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or other electronic device, and having a software application that allows a user to communicate with the cooking appliance. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises an electric cooktop, the heating source is an electric heating element, and the energy control device is a relay for reducing or stopping electrical energy (i.e. power) delivered to the electric heating element. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises a gas cooktop, the heating source is a gas burner, and the energy control device is an electronically-actuated gas valve for reducing or stopping the flow of gas (i.e. chemical energy) to the gas burner. 
     
     
         15 . A fire prevention and control system comprising:
 a cooking appliance comprising:
 a heating source configured for heating a cooking utensil placed upon an upper surface of the cooking appliance; 
 a temperature sensor configured for measuring the temperature of the cooking utensil placed upon or immediately above the heating source; and 
 a cooktop control unit comprising a communication module and being in operative communication with the temperature sensor and a remote device via the communication module, the cooktop control unit being configured for:
 monitoring the temperature of the cooking utensil using the temperature sensor; and 
 selectively deactivating the heating source to reduce the temperature of the cooking utensil when the measured temperature indicates that an unsafe operating condition exists or is imminent; and 
 
   a remote device in communication with the cooking appliance through the communication module, the remote device being configured to perform at least one of receiving appliance operating status information from the cooktop control unit or sending at least one control command to the cooktop control unit.   
     
     
         16 . The fire prevention and control system of  claim 15 , wherein the control command comprises at least one of:
 reducing the power of, or turning off, the heating source;   setting a power level to which the cooking utensil should be heated;   locking the heating source in an “off” mode;   initiating a temperature-controlled cooking profile; and   operating the heating source according to a time-dependent cooking profile.   
     
     
         17 . The fire prevention and control system of  claim 15 , wherein the appliance operating status information comprises at least one of:
 an indication that an unsafe operating condition exists or is imminent;   a notification that the heating source's power level has been reduced to prevent an unsafe operating condition from occurring;   a measured temperature of the cooking utensil;   a power level of the heating source that is manually set at the cooktop appliance; and   an amount of time that the heating source has been energized.   
     
     
         18 . The fire prevention and control system of  claim 15 , wherein the remote device is a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or other electronic device, and having a software application that allows a user to communicate with the cooking appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The fire prevention and control system of  claim 15 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises an electric cooktop, the heating source is an electric heating element, and the energy control device is a relay for reducing or stopping electrical energy (i.e. power) delivered to the electric heating element. 
     
     
         20 . The fire prevention and control system of  claim 15 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises a gas cooktop, the heating source is a gas burner, and the energy control device is an electronically-actuated gas valve for reducing or stopping the flow of gas (i.e. chemical energy) to the gas burner.